Question

The values on the x-axis range from 0 to 90 in increments of 10. The values on the y-axis range from 0 to 1,200 in increments of 200. The following data points are plotted on the scatterplot: left parenthesis 0 comma 1,100 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 10 comma 1,000 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 20 comma 1,000 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 25 comma 950 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 30 comma 875 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 35 comma 750 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 40 comma 800 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 45 comma 625 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 50 comma 600 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 55 comma 400 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 60 comma 350 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 70 comma 900 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 75 comma 300 right parenthesis; left parenthesis 80 comma 150 right parenthesis; and left parenthesis 85 comma 90 right parenthesis. A solid line that slopes downward from left to right begins on the y-axis at left parenthesis 0 comma 1,200 right parenthesis. The solid line passes through left parenthesis 20 comma 1,000 right parenthesis and ends at left parenthesis 85 comma 200 right parenthesis. All values are approximate.


Which of the following interprets the most likely cause of the outlier in this scatterplot?

Answer 1

The point at (70, 900) is the clear outlier — it lies far above the downward trend defined by the other points/line. The most likely cause is an error (measurement or data‑entry/recording mistake) or an unusual, one‑time event affecting that observation.

Recommended action: check the original data/measurement for that case (look for transcription/unit/decimal errors) and ask whether anything exceptional happened at x = 70; correct or exclude the value only after confirming the cause.